smallest gar

[E_americanus]

He should get a native fish from where he is from. That way if the fish got too big he could release it into an invoronment that could support it.

this is definitely not a good idea. one should NEVER under any circumstances release a pet fish into the wild. feeders, other tankmates, etc etc could transfer pathogens to the "native" fish and then spread them to the wild community upon release.

if you can't take care of a fish, even one from the wild, find it a new home with another hobbyist or euthanize it--
--solomon